Southwestern Region Of Bangladesh Research Articles

Land subsidence monitoring using InSAR technique in the southwestern region of Bangladesh

Deltas like the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta (GBD) experience significant land subsidence due to overlaying load, consolidation, sediment compaction, regional tectonics, and human activity. The southwestern region of Bangladesh, marked by its low-lying floodplain with compressible sediments, experiences significant land subsidence. However, accurate assessments for these areas are very scarce, often focusing on the point-based measurements. This study employed Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar analysis, spanning from 2014 to 2022, to effectively measure land subsidence, and visualize it spatially. In the study area, subsidence rates were found to be ranging from 3 to 20 mm/year, with most areas experiencing 3-10 mm/year. While some areas show higher rates of 10-13 mm/year, very few exceeded 14 mm/year. The average subsidence rate was 5.98 mm/year, demonstrating significant spatial variability, with higher rates in Gopalganj, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, and other areas. The findings were validated based on existing Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data points, affirming their reliability. Despite minor discrepancies with other measurements at specific points, the overall results align well with existing data. This comprehensive analysis provides a detailed assessment of land subsidence in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, highlighting significant spatial variability and offering valuable insights for future coastal development and risk mitigation strategies.

OFF-SEASON AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF THREE EXOTIC WATERMELON VARIETIES IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN REGION OF BANGLADESH

The watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.)] - a herbaceous, annual, and monoecious fruit - belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae and is usually cultivated in Bangladesh during the period from February to April. However, they may be grown year-round, and off-season watermelon cultivation is more profitable than seasonal farming. The research was conducted at the Field Laboratory of Khulna University from August to December, 2021 to evaluate the off-season agronomic performance of the selected three watermelon varieties viz. Kanya, Black Super, and Tripti. The experiment investigated both the vegetative and reproductive growth of watermelon following a Randomized Complete Block Design with five replications. Kanya had the longest vines with the most leaves, and nodes followed by Black Super and Tripti. All the watermelon cultivars were found to be similar in producing male flowers, while Black Super and Kanya produced more female flowers, and Black Super also produced the highest fruit yield (6.37 t ha-1), which was statistically similar to Kanya (5.84 t ha-1) and the lowest yield was obtained from Tripti (3.69 t ha-1).  Kanya performed better regarding fruit length (22.47 cm), fruit width (30.89 cm), and fruit weight (1.03 kg). Black Super scored the highest TSS (8.43) (Brix0) value, followed by Kanya (7.63) and Tripti (6.39). The amount of weight loss after the harvesting of fruits was less in Black Super, followed by Kanya and Tripti. Black Super had a longer recorded shelf life (28 days) than the other two varieties. The results of this study suggest that Black Super and Kanya can be grown during the off-season in the south-western region of Bangladesh.

Floating Market-Based Slow Tourism: Harnessing Climate-Based Entrepreneurship towards Community Development in the South-Western Region of Bangladesh

Purpose: Slow tourism is a new, alternative form of tourism competing with mass tourism, as tapping its full potential can be utilised in riverine and flood-prone countries. The key purpose of this study is to find the elements of slow tourism in the southwestern part of Bangladesh, known for its serene floating market, and assess its features that are compatible with the principles of slow tourism. 
 Methodology: This research adopted a qualitative approach. Qualitative methods such as narrative interviews, key informant interviews and FGDs were used to collect primary data. The southern region of Bangladesh, is famous for floating market and was selected as a study site.
 Findings: To incorporate the floating market through the broader lens of “Slow Tourism”, synthesising the attributes of slow tourism was significant. As the attributes of the floating market supported the characteristics of slow tourism to a certain degree, the floating markets and adjacent areas were a suitable premise for developing the concept of slow tourism.
 Originality: Since there hasn’t been ample research on slow tourism in Bangladesh, this study can transform the perception of conventional tourism into alternative tourism. It provides tourists with spiritual tranquillity in the desired destinations of floating markets and a leeway to connect with local people, history and cultural products rendering a mutual reciprocity for future research.

Microplastics and heavy metals in freshwater fish species in the southwestern region of Bangladesh: An emerging concern for public health

Microplastics (MPs) pollution and its associated toxicity raising concerns among scientists as a result of their toxicological impacts on human health and the ecosystem. This study aims to investigate the microplastics and heavy metals (HMs) contamination in seventeen freshwater fish species collected from the Southwestern region of Bangladesh. Microplastics extracted from these species using the hydrogen peroxide digestion method and characterized by Attenuated Total Reflection- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) was used to determine the concentration of HMs in different species for evaluating human health risks. A total of 142 microplastic particles were extracted with an average concentration of 1.13 ± 0.84 items per individual of fish, where the highest microplastics were found in C. punctata (3.43 ± 3.15 items) and lowest in A. mola (0.14 ± 0.38 items). Identified microplastics were dominated by < 1 mm size (87.3%), black color (60.6%), and fiber shape (94.4%). Polyethylene (73.08%), polypropylene (21.15%), and polystyrene (5.77%) were the most prevalent among the identified microplastic polymers. A positive correlation was found between microplastic numbers and fish weight and length. Low to moderate human health risks were associated with microplastics. The concentration (mg/kg) of heavy metals in studied fish samples was Cr (0.47–2.89; 0.79 ± 0.56) > Cu (0.01–1.14; 0.50 ± 0.44) > Pb (0.04–0.58; 0.22 ± 0.12) > Cd (0.00–0.11; 0.03 ± 0.03), respectively. Heavy metals-based human health risk assessment results show that there are no major non-carcinogenic health risks (THI<1), while higher carcinogenic risks are present for consumers.

Hydro-chemical characteristics and groundwater quality evaluation in south-western region of Bangladesh: A GIS-based approach and multivariate analyses

The study focuses on the chemistry of groundwater and if it is suitable for drinking and for use in agriculture using water quality indices, GIS mapping, and multivariate analyses in Sharsa Upazila, Jashore district, Bangladesh. In this study, the concentration of NH4+, K+, Ca2+, EC, Turbidity overstep BDWS drinking standards in 69 %, 14 %, 100 %, 40 % (WHO), 73 % of samples respectively. The value of Water Quality Indices (WQI) results inferred that the maximum specimen was held good quality for drinking uses, and the values distributed central eastern part to the south-eastern part were good quality water in the selected studied area. The study area's PH, EC, SAR, Na (%), TH, and NO3− values were mapped using GIS tools to show their spatial distribution. The cluster and correlation matrix analyses are used to validate for Principle Component Analysis (PCA). The five PCA results exhibited that the presence of EC, turbidity, K+, SO42− and NO3− was significant and was caused by both geogenic (rock weathering and cation exchange) and anthropogenic (agrochemicals, animal feedback) factor. According to the hydro-geochemical data, the maximum number of samples is of the Ca–Mg–HCO3–Cl type and is dominated by rocks. The irrigation water indices like MH, KR, SAR, and %Na indicate show high-quality groundwater for irrigation purposes. Most of the samples were satisfactory and compiled with WHO and Bangladeshi criteria for standard drinking water guideline values.

The production and reproductive traits among different goat breeds in southwestern region of Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, a comprehensive study was conducted over one year to compare the reproductive and productive performance of Black Bengal, Jamunapari, and crossbred goats. The study involved a sample size of 226 goats and provided insightful information on the distinctive capabilities of each type of goat breeds. Most of the doe were 21–30 months of age, and their weight was 21–30 kg. The feed supply for the doe was concentrated green grass, whereas the kids got supplementary feed like rice bran. Among the reproductive traits, age at puberty, age of first kidding, and age of the first conception were significantly (P&lt;0.001) higher in Jamunapari goats, whereas aerial kidding intervals were found in 263.77 ± 54.26 days in crossbreeds. Postpartum heat periods were highest at 68.50 ± 5.53 days in Jamunapari goats at 1st and 2nd parity, though at 3rd parity, 22.96 ± 26.66 days were uppermost in Black Bengal. There was no significant effect of parity on lactation length or milk production. Though Jamunapari goats show the highest lactation length at 1st and 2nd parity, at 3rd parity, 2.56 ± 2.89 kg was the largest in Black Bengals. The mortality of kids was high in the second parity in Black Bengal and crossbreeds, whereas in Jamunapari, it was higher in the first and second parities. The mortality rate of kids under 20 days was high, which gradually decreased with the advancement of age. Different periparturient and postpartum diseases, like abortion, dystocia, retained placenta, etc., decreased the reproductive performance of goats. The Black Bengal goat exhibited superior productive and reproductive performance to Jamunapari and crossbred goats. The study's findings suggest that, in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, prioritizing Black Bengal goats for breeding programs could potentially enhance both productive and reproductive traits compared to Jamunapari and crossbred goats. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2023, 8 (3), 78-87

IMPACT OF WATERLOGGING ON LAND USE, BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN TALA UPAZILA, BANGLADESH

Waterlogging has become a major issue due to its severe impact on the south-western region of Bangladesh. This study aims to assess the trend of waterlogging and to find out the impact of waterlogging on land use, biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Tala located in the south-western region of Bangladesh. Satellite images of 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2021 were analyzed to portray the trend of waterlogging and questionnaire survey, FGDs and KIIs were used to discover the impacts of waterlogging on land use, biodiversity and ecosystem services in the study area. Satellite image analysis has shown that there is an ascending trend (increased by 154.5% between 1990 and 2000, by 135.9% between 2000 and 2010 and by 23.6% between 2010 and 2021) of waterlogging in the Tala upazila. Qualitative investigations revealed that waterlogging due to siltation in the associated rivers and unplanned human interventions, has been posing threats to the crop lands by turning them marshy. Biodiversity of aquaculture species, agricultural crops, aquatic wild animals, livestock, trees, birds etc. have been severely affected by waterlogging. Waterlogging is highly responsible for the low production of crop and aquaculture species, shortage of safe drinking water, habitat loss, sanitization, migration of people and so on.

Bacteriophage and non-pathogenic Vibrio to control diseases in shrimp aquaculture

The study aimed to address the recurring outbreaks of microbial diseases in shrimp aquaculture in Bangladesh the study focused on the utilization of bacteriophages and non-pathogenic Vibrio. The bacteriophages were isolated from sewage water sample collected from shrimp farm, hatchery, and the JUST campus. The bacteriophages were tested for their ability to infect different Vibrio strains in order to assess their bacteriolytic activity. Non-pathogenic Vibrio strains were obtained from suspected diseased isolates collected from the south-western region of Bangladesh through PCR amplification. In laboratory tests, the bacteriophages successfully infected 91 % of the tested Vibrio strains (19 out of 21 strains). In the experimental unit, shrimp treated with phage prophylaxis and phage treatment demonstrated notable protection against AHPND and was able to survive a deadly bacterial challenge. A total of 35 suspected diseased isolates were tested, and PCR amplification revealed 6 non-pathogenic Vibrio strains. In field trials, cultured bacteriophages were applied at a concentration of 1.5×106 PFU/ml, while non-pathogenic Vibrio was applied at 5×105 CFU/ml. The trials showed increased protection against infections and no severe deaths during the adaptive research phase. The cultured shrimp were analyzed morphologically and showed a muscle gut ratio greater than 4:1. No abnormal deformities were observed in their appendages or overall body, suggesting their overall health and well-being. The bacteriological tests conducted on the shrimp samples (application of bacteriophages and non-pathogenic Vibrio) revealed that 18 % of them were infected with bacteria, primarily Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and other bacterial species. Despite this, the infections did not lead to a disease outbreak; PCR amplification showed negative results for AHPND, White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), and Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP). The results highlight the potential of using bacteriophages and non-pathogenic Vibrio as a sustainable solution for preventing and controlling microbial diseases in shrimp aquaculture. Furthermore, this study will contribute valuable insights into the development of alternative strategies to combat antibiotic resistance and promote the growth of the shrimp industry in Bangladesh.

Measuring the level of rurality in the Southwestern region of Bangladesh

This research intends to measure and characterize the level of rurality in the southwestern region of Bangladesh using an indexing approach from functional perspective. The findings of the study can be conducive for efficient decision making related to rural development policies and planning. Besides, operational delineation of administrative units, such as Unions and Wards, is essential for the formulation and effective implementation of evidence-based development initiatives. The study has utilized the latest available population census data published by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The results reveal that Satkhira district exhibits a higher degree of rurality (RI = 4.23) compared to Khulna (RI = 3.58) and Bagerhat (RI = 4.14) districts. This variation among the three districts is ascribed to existing rural–urban disparities. The study underscores the primary influence of socio-economic factors on the rural–urban disparities, with a secondary role for demographic and infrastructural aspects. However, education's impact was notably limited in this context. Insights on intra-district disparities infer that Khulna district exhibits significantly greater rural–urban disparities than the other two. The study also highlights the clustering of non-rural areas along major rivers. This research will assist rural planners and policy makers in understanding the specific rural dynamics of the study area, essential for tailoring fit-to-context development strategies. Moreover, the study provides a basis for classifying the region into clusters to streamline development priorities and resource allocation. Furthermore, the article presents a transferable methodology for evaluating rurality and delineating rural regions in different contexts.

Validation of the efficiency of arsenic mitigation strategies in southwestern region of Bangladesh and development of a cost-effective adsorbent to mitigate arsenic levels

World's highest arsenic (As) contamination is well-documented for the groundwater system of southwestern region (mainly Jashore district) of Bangladesh, where the majority of inhabitants are underprivileged. To mitigate As poisoning in southwestern Bangladesh, numerous steps have been taken so far by the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Among them, digging deep tube wells and As removal by naturally deposited Fe(OH)3 species are being widely practiced in the contaminated areas. However, these actions have been left unmonitored for decades, making people unaware of this naturally occurring deadly poison in their drinking water. Hence, water samples (n = 63, both treated and untreated) and soil samples (n = 4) were collected from different spots in Jashore district to assess the safety level of drinking water and to understand the probable reasons for high As(III) contamination. About 93.7% of samples were found to contain As(III) above 10 μg/L; among them, 38% contained above 50 μg/L. The study shows that current As(III) removal strategies in the study area are ineffective. In this connection, a simple low-cost As(III) removal adsorbent is proposed that can be prepared with very cheap and locally available materials like iron sludge and charcoal. The adsorbent was characterized in terms of SEM, EDX, and XPS. The optimal dosage of the adsorbent was investigated for real-life application concerning several vital water quality parameters. The Fe–C adsorbent exhibited a maximum As(III) removal efficiency of 92% in real groundwater samples. The study will allow policymakers for informed decision-making regarding water body management as well as enable the local people to avail As-safe water in a way that aligns with their economic factors.

Salinity hazard drives the alteration of occupation, land use and ecosystem service in the coastal areas: Evidence from the south-western coastal region of Bangladesh

Understanding the salinity effects on the rural livelihood and ecosystems services are essential for policy implications and mitigations. Salinity-driven modulation in land use and land cover, community traditional occupations, and ecosystem service have been elucidated in the present investigation. The study was carried out in the south-western region of Bangladesh as a representative case using focus group discussions, questionnaire survey, and remote sensing techniques. The findings showed that salinity-induced land use changes seriously threatened ecosystem services, employment and livelihoods. Shrimp farming was found to have replaced the majority of agricultural and bare lands, which led to the poor locals losing their land. The increasing land transformation to shrimp ponds as a coping strategy with salinity was not reported to be a viable option as maximum marginal poor people were unable to run the capital-intensive shrimp aquaculture. Eventually, many rich people occupied the cropland for shrimp farming which forced the traditional farmers and fishermen to leave their job and sell their labor. Many of the traditional services derived from the ecosystems were drastically reduced or got lost. The ultimate effect on the traditional livelihoods of the communities increased vulnerability and reduced resilience. The findings could aid in formulating realistic policies and action for ensuring the future resilience of the community through an appropriate adaptation strategy, such as introducing salinity-tolerant crops and integrated farming to safeguard the interest of the poor farmers. Despite the geographical locality of the study, its implications are global given the identical salinity concerns in other emerging nations' coastal regions.

Compressive Behavior of Reconstituted Soils at High Initial Water Content: Case Study on South-Western Region Of Bangladesh

This study illustrates the experimental investigation of the effect of high initial water content on the compression behavior of reconstituted soil. For this attempt, disturbed soil samples were collected from two selected locations of the KUET campus, Khulna, Bangladesh. The reconstituted soils were prepared in the laboratory at different initial water content, ranging from 0.7 to 1.2 times their corresponding liquid limit. The main focus of this study was to investigate the compression behavior of reconstituted clays using oedometer tests. This work was complementary to the intrinsic compression line concept proposed by Burland (1990). In the laboratory, ASTM methods were followed to measure the initial properties of soils. Here, it can be observed that e - logσv compression curves show an inverse "S" shape as a result of resisting deformation due to pressure. Moreover, some important correlations were developed based on the initial void ratio and the void ratio at the liquid Limit e0/eL . It has been observed that the void index is a dominating parameter to normalize the squeezability characteristics at different initial water contents in the plastic post-yield regime. A non-unique relationship is obtained for different soils to express the intrinsic compression line concept. However, there is a proportional relationship between intrinsic compressibility and initial water contents or liquid limits. Journal of Engineering Science 14(1), 2023, 1-9

Uncovering the Morphological and Genetical Heterogeneity of Pyricularia oryzae (cooke) sacc. in Southwestern Region of Bangladesh

Significant yield losses are reported due to blast disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae across all rice growing areas of the world. Though, management strategies reduce disease significantly but blast epidemics are still common. This research was aimed to determine the variability among the 19 Pyricularia oryzae isolates of South-Western regions of Bangladesh. Morphological variability was determined based on nine morphological components like front mycelial color, reverse mycelial color, growth behavior, conidial length (μm), conidial  width (μm), conidial color, radial growth at 12 days (mm), 14 days (mm) and 16 days (mm) after incubation. Cluster analysis considering nine morphological components showed five distinct groups. Front and reverse mycelial color, growth behavior and conidial length played more than 80% role in generating variation among the nine tested components. Higher genetic variation was also detected among the 19 isolates of P. oryzae.  Here, larger numbers of amplified DNA fragments was formed by Primers UCB-155 which showed distinct polymorphism. Between two clusters, Cluster II consists of 18 isolates that were originated from different origin but having maximum 94% genetical similarity. Cluster I contain only one isolates PO-16. From pair wise distance matrix, maximum distance (80%) was found between PO-16 and PO-03 isolates and minimum distance (6%) was obtained between the isolates PO-11 and PO-12. Results of this experiment revealed that, higher genetic diversity among isolates of P. oryzae existed in the south western region of Bangladesh but there has no direct relation with genetic diversity and geographical origin.

A VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF AGROFORESTRY PRODUCTS IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN REGION OF BANGLADESH

This study explores the market linkages in a typical agroforestry value chain in Bangladesh, particularly the participation of the micro and subsistence level farming and household-community units in this chain. The study area is Dumuria Upazila which is a 30 square km land area in the outskirt of Khulna which is the third largest city of Bangladesh located in the south-western region of Bangladesh. Agro-products produced in the Dumuria Upazila and then sold in the areas including Dumuria Bazar and Gollamari Bazar which are peri-urban locations of Khulna city. The particular objectives of this study were to identify different value chains of agroforestry products, the relationship of various intermediaries within it, and to explore the impact of agroforestry practices on the socioeconomic condition of the local population. The assessment was performed by using multistage sampling of 80 households using a semi-structured questionnaire, and 30 intermediaries were included on convenience basis for tracing the structure of market linkage and existing problems, in the marketing of agro-products in the study area.  Explored network structures of the value chain have revealed that both the marketing of agroforestry crops and timber, include the intermediaries that have contributed to different forms of value-addition to the original product and produced higher gains for the participants in the value chain. Value chain participants in the point of origin of the products, farmers and households, reported being discriminated in terms of price taking while end-market intermediaries were found to absorb major shares of the total gain originated in the value chain.  The farmers were neutral in terms of satisfaction in case of purchase by the government, while the intermediaries were dissatisfied with the same. Findings of this study contributes in generating understanding the process of value creation, power structure, and gain sharing in the localized natural resources-based value chains.

Flood prediction and vulnerability assessment at the south-western region of Bangladesh.

Flood is a frequent experience for the people living in Bangladesh, especially in the south-western region. But due to its complexity and multidisciplinary nature, flood management remains a very difficult task. This research focused on finding the most vulnerable areas to flooding for each polder within the Khulna and Satkhira districts since those areas can be identified as one of the most vulnerable areas to flooding. Water level data from fourteen stations of seven rivers (Sibsa, Rupsa-Pasur, Kobadak, Bhadra, Kobadak, Ichamati (Western Border), Betna-Kholpetua, and Satkhira Khal) were analyzed to calculate water levels for 2, 5, 10, 25, and 100-year return period applying normal distribution, extreme value type-I (EV-I), and log person type-III (LP-III) distribution methods. The EV-I distribution method was showing the best fit. The study revealed that station SW243 (Rupsa-Pasur River) in the Dacope region has the most extreme water level, station SW259 (Sibsa River) has the second-highest water level, and station SW254.5 (Satkhira Khal) in Satkhira Sadar has the third-highest water level for the return period of 100years. A flood inundation map was prepared using the EV-I method's 10-year return period value. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to demonstrate the polders' vulnerability depending on several factors. Overall, polder15 (Ghubra, Satkhira) is the most vulnerable polder, while polder 33 and polder 32 respectively are the second and third most vulnerable polders for flooding, both located in the Dacope region.

Hydrogeological characteristics of waterlogged areas in Natore District, Bangladesh

Waterlogging (WL) refers to the process by which water flow is resisted in vertical and horizontal directions and thus water stagnates for a short or long span of time; it is induced by a combination of human and natural factors. In the southwestern region of Bangladesh, including Natore District, WL is a significant issue that needs to be addressed if agricultural activity is to be successful. This study aimed to identify surface WL in Natore District and to characterise the WL scenario in the study area in terms of hydrogeology. Waterlogged areas were identified with a geographic information system using satellite images corresponding to the premonsoon and postmonsoon periods. Using groundwater level data (1990–2017), the pre- and postmonsoon scenarios of the waterlogged areas were indicated by seasonal and perennial types of WL. Groundwater recharge scenarios were classified as long and short lag times. Most of the study area was characterised by thick clay or silty clay surficial layers with low water penetration rates, resulting from low porosity and low hydraulic conductivity. The cross-correlation between rainfall and groundwater level revealed the response of groundwater to rainfall, with a lag time of 1–5 months. Long lag time areas exhibited slow groundwater recharge and significant groundwater level fluctuation, with lower hydraulic conductivity values of 49.37–76.24 m/day. In contrast, short lag time areas displayed rapid groundwater recharge and small groundwater fluctuation due to a good proportional relationship with rainfall and higher hydraulic conductivity values of 74.74–117.79 m/day.

Land- and Water-Based Adaptive Farming Practices to Cope with Waterlogging in Variably Elevated Homesteads

Waterlogging is a major problem in the south-western region of Bangladesh; this study was conducted in the eight most affected areas in order to enhance agricultural production by applying Land- and Water-based adaptive and alternative Farming Practices (LWFP). The study was designed to support target (research) farmers by raising one part of their homestead to use for living and agricultural farming, with the other part excavated to store rainwater and use for aquaculture. The study selected two groups of control farmers: those with ponds and those without. The study was conducted in two phases (i.e., phase 1—pilot phase and phase 2—extended phase), with each year divided into three cropping seasons: summer, rainy, and winter. The study found that the research farmers’ income was significantly higher from vegetables (both pilot and extended phases: p &lt; 0.001), dike crops (both pilot and extended phases: p &lt; 0.001), fish (both pilot and extended phases: p &lt; 0.001), livestock (pilot phase: p &lt; 0.01 and extended phase: p &lt; 0.001), and poultry (pilot phase: p &lt; 0.05 and extended phase: p &lt; 0.001) compared to the control farmers. Moreover, the research supported the empowerment of women, which was not found in the control farms. Overall, the research program was embraced by the local communities as a very successful model. Furthermore, the study showed how waterlogging marginally affects very poor people, and that they can cope with this severe problem by adopting various farming practices. Therefore, the application of this research approach is suggested for similarly affected areas.

Mental health status of early married girls during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study in the southwestern region of Bangladesh.

Due to unemployment, the prolonged lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic caused panic and deepened poverty, especially among lower-class and marginal people. The related financial crises led to harmful practices such as the early marriage of adolescent girls, which deteriorated these girl's mental state. This study attempted to assess the prevalence of mental health problems among early married girls and determine the associated predictors of the growing mental health burden. This cross-sectional survey was conducted during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Dumuria Upazila in the Khulna district of Bangladesh. Data were collected purposively from 304 girls who were married off during the COVID-19 pandemic, this was carried out between 22 July and 31 August 2022 by administering a semi-structured interview schedule, with mental health measured by the depression, anxiety, and stress scale 21 (DASS 21). The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 25), and multiple linear regression was executed in order to predict mental health problems among early married girls. The findings show that the overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among early married girls during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh was 60.9% (95% CI: 0.554-0.663), 74.7% (95% CI: 0.698-0.796), and 23.7% (95% CI: 0.189-0.285). The prevalence was relatively higher among girls from the Sanatan (Hindu) religion and younger girls than among Muslim and older girls, respectively. The multiple linear regressions indicate that age, age at marriage, duration of the marriage, spousal occupation, intimate partner violence (IPV), and subjective happiness were the critical predictors of mental health problems among early married girls. Early marriage, along with various adverse outcomes, i.e., IPV, maladjustment, and poor subjective happiness, has resulted in heightened mental health problems for young girls. Policymakers should implement coercive measures to prevent early marriage, especially during social, economic, political, and health crises; in addition, more research is recommended in order to explore the mechanisms that make early married girls psychologically vulnerable and thus formulate protective and preventive programs for addressing such vulnerabilities.

The impacts of cooking and indoor air quality assessment in the southwestern region of Bangladesh

The main objective of this study is to assess the impacts of cooking and indoor air quality (IAQ) in the southwestern region of Bangladesh. Here we report and compare the IAQ in considering a total of eight kitchens and living rooms of four selected households (HHs) in Jashore city and suburb area, the southwest district of Bangladesh. Air quality parameters, such as particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), were assessed continuously for 24 h. In addition, Carbon dioxide (CO2) was evaluated in different phases during the study period. PM2.5, VOC, and CO2 levels were ranged from 18.52 to 207 μg/m3, 7.95–35.66 ppm, and 1061–2459 mg/m3, respectively, in the indoor cooking HHs. Conversely, while the average concentration was found between 20.63 and 23.72 μg/m3 PM2.5, 11.18–12.36 ppm VOC, and 1097–1747 mg/m3 CO2 in the outdoor cooking HHs. A significant increase in CO2 due to kitchen activities (cooking, frying, boiling) was observed that ranged between 5 and 77% compared to the background level. The calculated range of toxicity potential (TP) values was between 0.8 and 8.3 for PM2.5 in the HHs. In most of the observations, PM2.5, VOC, and CO2 exceed the standard values. The study reports that well ventilation systems and clean fuel use significantly reduce the indoor air contaminants level. Our study offers new insights about the IAQ of the southwest region of Bangladesh, particularly for suburbs and urban setups, and provides a background for further study, and decision-making. It will serve as a reference for the formulation and implementation of policies to improve air quality.

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies of Women in Disaster Prone Khulna Region in Bangladesh

The study was conducted on the adaptation strategy of women to climate change in disaster prone Khulna region of Bangladesh and the main objective of the study is to explore the climate change adaptation strategies of women in disaster prone Khulna region in Bangladesh. The study was conducted through the survey method. Purposive sampling techniques were used and the total sample size was 140. Interview schedule was used for data collection from the study area from three villages: naming jabakhali, pankhali and kodumtola in Burigaualini Union of Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira district. Most of the women were married and housewives. Majority of the respondents 70 percent were taken traditional adaptation strategies to adopt with disaster. Majority (62%) percents were taken meal insufficiently and suffered with various health problems. Mainly local adaptation measures like poultry rearing, traditional vegetable cultivation, fish cultivation, day labor, rain water collection etc. were taken by women. Also they have migrated to another place as adaptation measure. Most of them (68%) were faced gender discrimination and violence in family and workplace. Maximum 80 percent of the respondents have no decision making power in family. Maximum (82%) did not participate with community adaptation programme for household workloads and husband apathy. About 70 percent of the respondents did not get financial support from government of non-government organization for the lack of communication and political aggression. This study also found some significant correlation (Pearson c2=17.222 ; Df= 6, p&lt; .009) between household Income and level of meal taking, educational status and decision making power, educational status and participate on community adaptation programme. The study recommended that raising high awareness, Creation of employment and economic opportunities, women friendly cyclone centre and empowerment are needed to adopt with disaster of women in the study area. After all, specific attention of government as well as non-government organizations is inevitable for overcoming the awful effects of disaster and improving socio economic condition of women in south western region of Bangladesh.